Dozens of rough sleepers have been arrested in Leeds by police officers using controversial powers that were introduced in the Victorian era.

Since 2014 police have arrested 108 people in the city using powers outlined in the Vagrancy Act 1824 and charged 49 people, according to figures uncovered by a Freedom of Information request.

The controversial law states people can be arrested if they do not have 'any visible means of subsistence' and are caught lodging in a 'deserted or unoccupied building, or in the open air, or under a tent'.

However, West Yorkshire Police says officers only resort to using these powers when homeless people 'repeatedly refuse to engage with us and get the help they need'.

The force also states that it works closely with various homeless charities to make sure homeless people can access support and advice.

Arrests made in Leeds by police using Vagrancy Act powers

West Yorkshire Police

Lesley Howard, project manager at Leeds Street Outreach Service, says her organisation work closely with police, who usually only use Vagrancy Act powers 'when there is some form of anti social behaviour involved'.

She said: "To my knowledge we're not aware of people being arrested just for rough sleeping and it's definitely not something we would support.

"We work with the police and they would usually refer them to us before it gets to that stage.

"People are more likely to be arrested for begging activity or if they're prolific beggars, or if they have been abusive to members of the public."

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She added: "If they are coming into the city centre and causing a nuisance then that needs to be addressed, because it's not just for rough sleepers and beggars, it's a city centre for everyone.

"But arresting them is definitely a last resort. We would try everything before going down the enforcement route."

The number of arrests made in Leeds, by officers using Vagrancy Act powers has fallen year on year since 2014 and Ms Howard believes that is because West Yorkshire Police has been working more effectively with charities that support homeless people.

“Where individuals repeatedly refuse to engage with us and get the help they need we have no option but to take enforcement action"

Chief inspector Richard Padwell, Leeds City Centre Commander, said: “People who beg or sleep rough on the streets often have complex and challenging needs that only specialist support from a range of agencies can begin to address.

“We continue to work very closely with our partner agencies and support organisations to make sure that collectively we are addressing the issues around rough sleeping, vagrancy, begging and anti-social behaviour in the most effective ways.

“A multi-agency begging strategy group was set up in 2014 where individuals are discussed in detail so that comprehensive support plans can be put in place to help them.

"This process has shown us that many of those involved have accommodation and receive benefits but have other issues that see them on the streets.

“Where individuals repeatedly refuse to engage with us and get the help they need we have no option but to take enforcement action.

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"This has included arrests under the Vagrancy Act where necessary and proportionate but since 2014 dispersal orders have been increasingly used to try to address the behaviour of those who refuse to take the help being offered.

“The police and our partner agencies are committed to working together to protect vulnerable people and will continue to use all available measures to help people on the streets to turn their lives around.”

More than 19,000 people have signed a petition which calls for the highly controversial piece of legislation to be repealed, but the government currently has no plans to make any changes to the act.

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